Co-productions

Broadcaster
AIBD/CFI/MBC Workshop on
Creative Content Production
Fifteen producers, cameramen and
video editors from Maldives successfully
completed a workshop on creative content
production held from 3 to 7 February 2013
in Male. AIBD in partnership with Canal
France International (CFI) organized this
activity while the Maldives Broadcasting
Commission (MBC) served as host.
Participants to the five-day workshop
came from MBC, VTV, Chanel Wave,
Raajje TV, DhiTV and SunTV Plus.
Ms. Kristell Lansonneur served as the
consultant from CFI.
The workshop provided participants
the knowledge, skills and techniques to
use creative content in producing short
documentaries on culture and the natural
resources in Maldives Islands.
The participants were divided into two
groups. Each group researched information
during recess. On location they developed
the main idea, wrote the synopsis, the
script and the shooting plan. Each group
had creative ideas for treating its short
documentary and was eager to go on the
ground to film.
At the conclusion of the workshop the two
groups were proud of their achievements and
showed the documentaries they produced to
the MBC management, which appreciated
the quality of the two short documentaries.
During the first day of training, the
participants identified themes for short
subjects. After a long brainstorming session
and discussion on theories concerning the
notion of documentary and its treatment,
they retained two subjects for production.
One was about the ‘bajiya’, the traditional
short eats in Maldives which are part of the
Maldivian culture. The other was on waste
management and its impact on the Maldivian
environment.
After a day of shooting not only in Male
but also in ‘Tilafushi’, known as the
‘trash Island’, the participants attempted
to experiment new ways of shooting and
within a short time produced adequate
footage. This was followed by the
postproduction which included viewing of
rushes, selecting the shots and creative
editing of the two reports.
Though the duration of the workshop was
short, it met its objectives by providing the
participants new methods and techniques
for directing and filming. It allowed them
to think ‘out of the box’. They were able to
translate their ideas into images, express
them creativiely without fear of judgement.
They were ready to share their experiences
with their colleagues and build further
on their confidence by practicing again
and again to produce more creative short
documentaries.
24